Patience pays for Patel as New Zealand make inroads in Galle Test
Ajaz Patel led the New Zealand fightback against Sri Lanka on Thursday after the spinner’s five-wicket haul put the opening Test match in Galle in the balance on Day 2.
New Zealand were bowled out for 249 in the first session, but Sri Lanka struggled to get going during Patel’s spells and finished on 227-7, trailing by 22.
Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne patiently saw off the new ball attack of Trent Boult and Tim Southee before Patel was introduced as early as the 11th over in spin-friendly conditions.
The Indian-born left-armer, who finished with 5-76, struck in his first over to have Thirimanne stumped. Karunaratne was next to go with a similar delivery that trapped him leg before with the score on 66-2 as Patel proceeded to rip through Sri Lanka’s top order.
Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews built a 77-run partnership for the third wicket before Mendis (53) was dismissed the very next ball after bringing up his 10th fifty just before tea.
After a middle-order collapse, where three batsmen added only six runs, wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella (39 not out) and Suranga Lakmal (28 not out) wrested back control for the hosts with an unbeaten 66-run partnership to keep the Test evenly poised.
“I think with surfaces like that offer you something, you’ve got to stay patient and ask good questions of the batsman,” said Patel, who became the first New Zealand spinner to claim a five-wicket haul in Galle.
“We know Sri Lankans are good players of spin, so you’ve got to respect that and make sure you put balls in good areas for long period. I think you’ve got to keep hanging in and play the long game. Yes, there’s turn, but it’s slow turn.”
Earlier, Ross Taylor, unbeaten on 86 at stumps on Wednesday, fell to the very first delivery he faced, missing out on his 19th century after edging fast bowler Lakmal to the wicketkeeper.
After Akila Dananjaya picked up five wickets on the first day, Lakmal (4-29) quickly cleaned up the tail.
“We had lost too many wickets when I walked in and someone needed to hang in there with Dickwella, who was our last recognised batsman,” Lakmal said.
“I just told him that I will hold one end up and for him to do the scoring. It worked well for us and when the loose ball was on offer, I cashed in, too.”